Moody's Investors Services issued a report this week predicting that Apple’s cash stockpile could grow to as large as $170 billion by the end of 2013. That assumes that Apple doesn't change its philosophy towards dividends and stock buybacks. Apple has been under pressure from a hedge fund manager named David Einhorn and other major investors to return some of that cash to shareholders.

Apple has noted that it is in "active discussions" on returning some of that money to investors but no details were offered. Einhorn is currently involved in the suit against Apple that CEO Tim Cook has dubbed "a sideshow."

Moody's wrote, "Unless Apple changes its philosophy towards liquidity/shareholder returns by increasing its $10 billion annual common dividend, or if Apple increases it stock buyback program, we estimate Apple’s cash balances could increase by another $35 billion in 2013 and exceed $170 billion."

When it comes to cash reserves, Apple has roughly twice as much as its closest competitor. Microsoft was sitting on total cash reserves of $68.3 billion as of December 31, 2012. Google is slightly behind with $48.1 billion.

The only non-technology company in the top five biggest cash-rich companies in the United States was pharmaceutical giant Pfizer with $46.9 billion in cash taking the number four spot. Rounding out the top five is Cisco Systems with $46.4 billion in cash.

An interesting aspect of Apple's finances in recent years is the explosion in spending on capital investment, literally in plant and machinery. The fascinating historical context for that is examined in some detail by Horace Dediu in his recent presentation as part of the Harvard Business School Technology and Operations Management Digital Seminar Series.

His presentation, including many animated graphs analysing the development of the mobile device markets and platforms in the context of the computer markets over several decades. is available as a download for replay on any i-Device. Definitely worth a look especially when trying to understand Apple's financial planning. It's here

wow that sounds totally interesting and exciting!and if i didn't have a job, girlfriend, hobbies -a life, really- i'd totally put that on an endless repeating loop!well i would, if i had an "i-device". thankfully, i have a galaxy, like most other sane people.

quote: wow that sounds totally interesting and exciting!and if i didn't have a job, girlfriend, hobbies -a life, really- i'd totally put that on an endless repeating loop!well i would, if i had an "i-device". thankfully, i have a galaxy, like most other sane people.

Sorry my mistake, I thought that people who frequented a site called Daily Tech might actually be interested in technology, and that they might have enough upstairs to know that understanding the development of technology would require a little thought. I was wrong.

I know that using devices, such as your that are not very compatible, can be irritating but there is such a simple solution.

It's your loss as Horace Dediu is considered the absolute best data driven analysts of the mobile markets and this presentation is exceedingly through and very illuminating.

Tehy do care about tech... They dont care about finance and certainly not about Horace Dediu. He is much like you, spends all of his time thinking about Apple and has zero insight or understanding into anything else. As Applecentric as it gets... But still its finance. Might I suggest you take that type of thing here? http://www.thefinanceforums.com/